BCE Leuven Project
e-Update - Term 4, 2015
Welcome to Term 4
Welcome to Term Four and the final E-Update for 2015.
As we approach the end of the year there are a number of things happening in the area of Catholic identity and the BCE Leuven Project. Some of the key activities this term include:
- Theology and Practice Workshop for 2015 schools
- Finalisation of the 2016 BCE Leuven Project cohort
- Expression of interest for the Leuven Theological Intensive in Belgium for 2016
- Development on a new Master level subject between ACU and The University of
Leuven. This will be a residential subject held in Melbourne in 2016 and will specifically
look at the theology and theory in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project.
- Organisation of the 2016 Master Class series, which will include speakers to support
our understanding of contemporary Catholic identity.
If you would like more information on any of these areas please contact The Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership Team on 3033 7620 or FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au .
Theology and Practice of the BCE Leuven Project (2015 Schools)
This workshop is for our 2015 cohort of schools to begin to explore the theology and theory underpinning the BCE Leuven Project. Participants will also begin to develop data literacy skills so that they can interpret and make sense of the various graphs that will be presented in their individual school report.
We ask each school to send 3 participants to this day in October. Registration for this event is via iLearn (course code: BCE04618). Please ensure you have enrolled by the 13th October, 2015.
If you have special dietary requirements please contact Elizabeth McConnell or Enza Maloney on 3033 7620 or FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au .
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2015, 08:30 AM
Mercy Place, Simpsons Road, Bardon, Queensland, Australia
Catholic Identity Directions for 2016
To help BCEO plan and support schools who are engaging with the Catholic identity project we are looking for each school to identity their areas of action with regard to Catholic identity.
Based on the data and recommendations presented in each schools report, many schools have already identified focus areas that they will be targeting in 2016. In order to collect this data we will be asking each school to complete an Areas for Action form. This information will be used to help provide support to schools in their identified focus areas. This data will also be shared with your Area Supervisor and EORE.
We will be sending an email to schools in the next week or so with the form and an explanation on how to complete it.
If you have any questions please contact Simon Mahaffy on 3033 7378 or smahaffy@bne.catholic.edu.au .
Catholic Identity Website
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new website to support schools who are engaging in the BCE Leuven Project. This website is housed as part of the Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership team site and can also be accessed by clicking on the 'Strengthen Catholic Identity' link on K-Web.
On this website there are two main sections:
1) Strengthen Catholic Identity Strategy
This site will have information regarding the BCE strategy. This will be updated as the strategy document is developed and published.
2) The BCE Leuven Project
This site will house resources that will be useful to school who are engaging directly with the Leuven research. This includes resources about the project process, how to complete the surveys and how to unpack the data. There is also a resource section that contains videos, fact sheets, articles, Power Points and other key documents that will be useful to schools.
We would like to thank our team for the development of this site and in particular Jonathan Royan and Anthony McGibbon for the creation of this SharePoint site.
Please find a link to this site below.
UNPACKING THE LEUVEN SCALES
In the final edition for 2016 we unpack the third key Leuven scale, the Victoria Scale.
The Victoria Scale looks at the different ways of combining Catholic identity with cultural diversity and explores the ways a Catholic school in a multi-cultural and multi-religious world manages this challenge. The Victoria Scale identifies four stances that schools can adopt.
Monologue School: A Catholic school that is closed to the outside world. It has a very strong Catholic identity, however, it does not show openness to other religions or philosophies of life. The 'Catholic ghetto'.
Colourless School: This is a secularised school, where the Catholic ethos is no longer visible. The focus is on the individual and religion is seen as a private matter and is not relevant at school.
Colourful School: This is a secularised school with strong social solidarity among its population. All religions are welcome and tolerated, but it rejects Christianity as the preferred option for the Catholic school.
Dialogue School: THIS IS THE PREFFERED IDENTITY OPTION. A dialogue school explicitly emphasises its Catholic inspiration through dialogue with a multicultural society. It re-profiles the Catholic faith amidst contemporary society.
The preferred option proposed by the Catholic University of Leuven is that of DIALOGUE. The Dialogue School is one that chooses to explicitly emphasise its Catholic inspiration in dialogue with culture. It is receptive and open to other faiths and traditions and comes to a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith through authentic dialogue with others.
Listen to Professor Didier Pollefeyt Explain the Victoria Scale!
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT A DIALOGUE SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE?
Listen to Professor Didier Pollefeyt share examples of the Dialogue School.
WANT MORE...
You can also download a copy of the Victoria Scale fact sheet, which briefly outlines key information about this scale.
Click on the link below to access the fact sheet.
Victoria Scale Fact Sheet
Inter-faith Dialogue Through World Religions
A common recommendation in many school reports is to explore ways to engage in inter-faith dialogue and to learn about the 'other' and in turn learn more about ourselves.
Inter-faith dialogue is a meeting of people of differing religions in an atmosphere of mutual respect, freedom and openness. Reciprocity is key and it involves mutual sharing and active communication (Source: Archdiocese of Brisbane Website)
One way in which schools may explore dialogue is through exploration of world religions in the Religious Education Curriculum. In August, Religious Education Services hosted a World Religions Professional Learning day. Education Officers, John Thomas and Beth Nolen led the gathered participants in developing some background knowledge about Judaism and Islam in relation to the Years 7-10 Religious Education Curriculum.
Also invited along were Abdul Jalal (Islamic Council of Queensland) and Ari Heber (Queensland Jewish Community Services) which enabled the participants to not only learn about Islam and Judaism but to learn from someone within the faith tradition.
This workshop became a great example of inter-faith dialogue as participants had the opportunity to ask Abdul and Ari questions about Islam and Judaism as well as clarify points of similarity and difference between Catholicism, Islam and Judaism. It was through these discussions we came to know and understand more about Islam and Judaism as well as come to know more about Catholicism.
On the Archdiocese of Brisbane's website there is information about inter-faith dialogue and what this means as well as some contacts within the Archdiocese. Click on the link below to access this site.
Archdiocese of Brisbane - Inter-faith relations
Listed below are the contact details for both Abdul and Ari who are happy to talk with schools about inter-faith learning and dialogue.
Abdul Jalal
Ariel Heber
John Thomas has also kindly shared the PowerPoint presentations he created for this workshop. Please click on the link below to access these presentations.
INTRODUCING ISLAM POWERPOINT
INTRODUCING JUDAISM POWERPOINT
POPE FRANCIS PRAYS FOR PEACE WITH FAITH LEADERS
During Pope Francis' recent visit to the United States he visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York and joined with Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Orthodox and Evangelical faith leaders to pray for peace in our world. This prayer session included prayers from the different faith traditions in what Pope Francis hopes is a "powerful sign of our shared desire to be a force for reconciliation, peace and justice".
Click on the link for access to the full news story. POPE PRAYS FOR PEACE
Leuven Theological Intensive
Principals will shortly receive an email about the Leuven Theological Intensive which is being offered in May / June 2016. This is a two week intensive course held at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. Participants will join colleagues from BCEO and from the dioceses of Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.
This intensive program will be particularly useful to those whose schools are currently engaged in the BCE Leuven Project or who are looking at engaging with this project in 2016 /2017. This program will provide a comprehensive understanding of the theology underpinning the project as well as introduce you to many other contemporary theological concepts.
Please keep an eye out for the expression of interest email and brochure which will have more details.
If you have any questions please contact the Professional Learning Formation and Leadership Team on 3033 7620 or FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au
Caritas Professional Development Programs
Caritas Australia offers a number of professional development courses which will support schools as they engage in a number of areas including:
- Care of Our Common Home: explore the core theme introduced in Laudato Si and how to incorporate these themes across the curriculum.
- Charity and Justice: introduction to the concept of global citizenship and explores the difference between charity and action for justice.
- Embedding Catholic Social Teaching (CST) across the curriculum: Work with a Caritas consultant to look at ways to embed CST's across the P-12 curriculum as well as be provided with resources to use in your school.
Susan Bentley is the Caritas Global Education Advisor based in Brisbane and can provide you with more details about these programs and can offer support to you in this area.
The resources offered by Caritas will be very useful to schools actioning recommendations in the areas of social justice, Catholic perspective in curriculum or developing an understanding on Church teaching on social justice.
For further information please click on the link below to access the flyer or for Susan's contact details see below.
Susan Bentley
Global Education Adviser ( QLD)
P 07 3033 7376 M 0417271152
Helpful Resources
EDUCATOR'S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC IDENTITY
Paul Sharkey has released a new book which explores how Catholic schools can be educational communities where learning, faith and life meet in ways that are meaningful and powerful for students. This resource draws upon the research of the Professor Didier Pollefeyt and the Catholic University of Leuven. It explores how Catholic schools can live their Catholic identity through various facets such as pastoral care, curriculum, pedagogy, prayer, etc.
Please click on the link to access Garratt Publishing to purchase this resource.
You are also able to access this book through Resource Link.
ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE
Watch the recent multi-faith prayer service with the Dali Lama. Leaders from numerous faith traditions were invited to lead the community gathered at St Stephen's Cathedral in prayers for peace. Click HERE to access the web cast.
STRENGTHEN CATHOLIC IDENTITY SHAPE PAPER
An updated version of the BCE Shape Paper for the Strengthening Catholic Identity Strategy is now available for download. This document outlines the purpose, vision and scope of this key BCE strategy. Please click HERE to download a copy from K-Web.
THE LEUVEN SCALES FOR DUMMIES
These documents have been written by the Catholic University of Leuven to help explain the PCB Scale, Melbourne Scale and Victoria Scale. Please click HERE to access the articles.
VIDEOS OF PROFESSOR POLLEFEYT'S VISIT TO BRISBANE IN 2014
These video excerpts were taken at the 2014 Leadership Conference, where Professor Pollefeyt was the key note speaker. This series of videos give an overview of the Leuven Project and explore the PCB, Melbourne and Victoria Scales.
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ISSUES
For access to the previous issues of the BCE Leuven Project e-Update please click on the links below.
Term 1, 2015 https://www.smore.com/qgzfv
Term 2, 2015 https://www.smore.com/v8nrp
Term 3, 2015 https://www.smore.com/fhtxe
Want to Talk to Someone about the BCE Leuven Project?
Email: FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au
Website: www.bne.catholic.edu.au
Location: 243 Gladstone Road, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
Phone: (07) 3033 7620
If you have any queries or questions about the BCE Leuven Project please direct them to Simon Mahaffy or contact the team on 3033 7620